• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative said July 14 that its average residential rate this billing month of July increased by P1.3119 each kilowatt-hour of electricity consumed.
This means that its member-consumers in Pulupandan, San Enrique, Valladolid, Pontevedra, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Isabela, Hinigaran, Binalbagan, Himamaylan, Kabankalan, Ilog, Candoni, Cauayan, Sipalay, Hinoba-an, and La Carlota City, will be paying P16.1134/kWh from P14.8015/kWh in June.
The hike was mainly due to the total generation charge, which increased by P1.2508/kWh, or from P8.8736 last month to P10.1244/kWh this July, the Noceco said in its advisory, adding “the main factor of the increase in generation charge is the P3.8118/kWh hike in the cost of power purchased from the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).
WESM price was at P15.0266 this month, from P11.2147/kWh in June.
“We are striving to lessen Noceco’s reliance to the volatile spot market prices,” the management said, adding it hopes to reduce dependence on WESM with its power supply agreement with KEPCO Salcon Power Corporation now pending action from the Energy Regulatory Commission.
It also urged member-consumers to be aware of their energy consumption to avoid paying high electricity bill. “We appeal (for) understanding as we continue to find better solutions to mitigate the impact (of high) electricity prices being experienced by the power industry.”
Noceco’s rate for June decreased by P3.1594, or from P17.9609/kWh rate in May to P14.8015/kWh last month. | CGC
